Inmate Released To Get Breast Cancer Treatment

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KMVT News

Phoenix, Arizona (CNN) An Arizona woman suffering from breast cancer was released from jail so she can get treatment.

Ruth Alvarez had been behind bars for more than two weeks, accused of working under a false identity.

She's in the country illegally and has been here for about 15 years.

She accepted a rare plea deal that allows her to get the cancer treatment she needs.

Alvarez pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor and will be on unsupervised probation for a year.

She'd finished chemotherapy just before she was arrested.

And she's scheduled to have a mastectomy within a week.

"My first thing is thank God. It's making my life. He's the only one that can make everything possible and, thank him for everything. My kids is what really made me stronger and go through this," she says.

It's not clear if Alvarez will be deported.

Immigration and Customs Enforcement says it'll revisit her case after she recovers from surgery.